1. Oedipus Rex Written by: Sophocles Oedipus Rex Written by: Sophocles

2. Oedipus Rex is considered one of the world’s greatest tragedies

3. Sophocles Sophocles was born around 496 B.C. He was one of Greece’s greatest playwrights and won prizes for his tragedies 24 times Born into wealth, Sophocles lived during Athens’ Golden Age of achievement and wrote 123 plays We still have 7 of those plays today. Sophocles was born around 496 B.C. He was one of Greece’s greatest playwrights and won prizes for his tragedies 24 times Born into wealth, Sophocles lived during Athens’ Golden Age of achievement and wrote 123 plays We still have 7 of those plays today.

4. Oedipus Rex Notes Tragedy- serious drama featuring a main character, often of noble birth, who strives to achieve something and is ultimately defeated. Tragic flaw- the inborn character flaw or weakness that causes the main character’s downfall Tragedy- serious drama featuring a main character, often of noble birth, who strives to achieve something and is ultimately defeated. Tragic flaw- the inborn character flaw or weakness that causes the main character’s downfall

5. Structure of Greek Tragedies Prologue: Sets forth the subject and provides the mythological background necessary for understanding the events of the play Parados: “song” sung by the chorus as it first enters- named for the corridors at the front of the stage of a Greek theater Episode: a scene of dialogue in which one or more actors take part Prologue: Sets forth the subject and provides the mythological background necessary for understanding the events of the play Parados: “song” sung by the chorus as it first enters- named for the corridors at the front of the stage of a Greek theater Episode: a scene of dialogue in which one or more actors take part

6. Structure of Greek Tragedies, cont. Exodus: a processional song “sung” by the chorus at the end of the play, offering words of wisdom related to the actions and outcome of the play Chorus: a group that serves as a nameless onlooker and commentator- Sophocles uses the Chorus as an actual character Choral Odes: the chorus’s lyric songs Exodus: a processional song “sung” by the chorus at the end of the play, offering words of wisdom related to the actions and outcome of the play Chorus: a group that serves as a nameless onlooker and commentator- Sophocles uses the Chorus as an actual character Choral Odes: the chorus’s lyric songs

7. Oedipus Rex The Theban Plays- three tragedies by Sophocles about King Oedipus of Thebes written over a period of 36 years Antigone (442 BC) Oedipus Rex (429 BC) Oedipus at Colonus (406 BC) The Theban Plays- three tragedies by Sophocles about King Oedipus of Thebes written over a period of 36 years Antigone (442 BC) Oedipus Rex (429 BC) Oedipus at Colonus (406 BC)

8. Oedipus Rex Themes: The quest for identity The nature of innocence and guilt The nature of moral responsibility The limitations of human will versus fate The abuse of power Themes: The quest for identity The nature of innocence and guilt The nature of moral responsibility The limitations of human will versus fate The abuse of power

9. Oedipus Rex Dramatic irony- When the reader or audience knows something important that a character in a story or drama does not know Dramatic irony- When the reader or audience knows something important that a character in a story or drama does not know

10. Dramatic Irony, cont. The fundamental irony in the play stems from the audience’s knowledge of Oedipus’ true identity (of which Oedipus is completely unaware)

11. What do we (the audience) know that Oedipus doesn’t know? Well…

12. THEBES King Laius Queen Jocasta

13. THEBES King Laius Queen Jocasta baby

14. THEBES King Laius Queen Jocasta baby Oracle…servant/ shepherd

15. THEBES King Laius Queen Jocasta baby Oracle…servant/ shepherd Mt. Cithaeron

16. THEBES King Laius Queen Jocasta baby Oracle…servant/ shepherd Mt. Cithaeron Shepherd finds baby with ankles bound

17. THEBES King Laius Queen Jocasta baby Oracle…servant/ shepherd Mt. Cithaeron Shepherd finds baby with ankles bound CORINTH King Polybus Queen Merope

18. THEBES King Laius Queen Jocasta baby Oracle…servant/ shepherd Mt. Cithaeron Shepherd finds baby with ankles bound CORINTH King Polybus Queen Merope Oedipus hears prophecy

19. THEBES King Laius Queen Jocasta baby Oracle…servant/ shepherd Mt. Cithaeron Shepherd finds baby with ankles bound CORINTH King Polybus Queen Merope Oedipus hears prophecy Crossroads scuffle…kills Laius

20. THEBES King Laius Queen Jocasta baby Oracle…servant/ shepherd Mt. Cithaeron Shepherd finds baby with ankles bound CORINTH King Polybus Queen Merope Oedipus hears prophecy Crossroads scuffle…kills Laius Solves riddle,

21. Riddle of the Sphinx Sphinx…head of woman, body of lion, wings of eagle Riddle: What goes on four legs in the morning, on two legs at noon, and on three legs in the evening? Sphinx…head of woman, body of lion, wings of eagle Riddle: What goes on four legs in the morning, on two legs at noon, and on three legs in the evening?

22. Answer: A man! He crawls on all fours as a baby, walks on two legs as an adult, and walks with a cane during old age

23. Sphinx con’d Oedipus solved the riddle, and the Sphinx destroyed herself. Of course morning, noon, and night are metaphors for the times in a man's (person's) life. Such metaphors are common in riddles. Oedipus solved the riddle, and the Sphinx destroyed herself. Of course morning, noon, and night are metaphors for the times in a man's (person's) life. Such metaphors are common in riddles.

24. THEBES King Laius Queen Jocasta baby Oracle…servant/ shepherd Mt. Cithaeron Shepherd finds baby with ankles bound CORINTH King Polybus Queen Merope Oedipus hears prophecy Crossroads scuffle…kills Laius Solves riddle, saves town, marries Queen

25. THEBES King Laius Queen Jocasta baby Oracle…servant/ shepherd Mt. Cithaeron Shepherd finds baby with ankles bound CORINTH King Polybus Queen Merope Oedipus hears prophecy Crossroads scuffle…kills Laius Solves riddle, saves town, marries Queen Play begins 20 years later…